The City of Detroit Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has completed repairs around and to the Gateway to Freedom statue and International Monument to the Underground Railroad in Detroit?s Civic Center.

Golden Eagles Architectural Restoration, Inc. cleaned the monument and re-secured several fixtures that are part of the installation. Grunwell-Cashero Co. also repaired concrete and pavers around the monument. Total cost for the repairs was $30,000.

The repairs were completed in time to coordinate with the  International Gateway to Freedom (UGRR) Conference which celebrates the Underground Railroad, and is being hosted this week by U. of D. Mercy in partnership with The Detroit River Project.

?We are honored to have the responsibility for maintaining and safeguarding the Monument for visitors to appreciate and enjoy,? said Will Tamminga, director of project management at Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, which supervised the repairs.